Musings of a Fifty Something dad and Architect

So 3,696 pieces later I have finished building my Christmas present (thank you Maria Smith Boros). Really pleased with the result, it’s a big and incredibly detailed model with some interesting insights, working sequential gearbox with paddle shifts, push rod suspension all round, four wheel drive and nice details like the scissor doors and moveable rear spoiler. But I must say it has its disappointment. Namely the way all the engineering details are covered by the bodywork (which I must say is very well done). I think Lego are missing a trick and they should really think about assembling the body separately so that you can still look at the details below. Maybe with the next model they could look at this or maybe simply doing a model showing the workings of the gearbox and paddle shifts as these are interesting and informative elements on their own. I did have the same thoughts with my previous build, the Land Rover Defender where again the gearbox and four wheel drive system was hidd...

Looking back am I glad to see the back of 2021?     My immediate response is yes and this is mainly due to the effects COVID both how it effected our health and the way we lived our lives; but I must also look back at the successes of 2021 all be it few.     Highlights I can think of now are the British success of my favourite sport BMX Racing and in particular waking up early that July morning to watch Beth win Gold in the Olympics.     Other success personally must be my new job, although the circumstances leading up to this were unfortunate and linked to the dominant subject of 2021, COVID.     A second bout of Furlough put my then new job in doubt and the lack of work meant I felt I needed a new challenge.     This was unusual for me as in my whole working life I have not voluntarily left a job, preferring instead to be loyal to those that have given me that job.     But being put on Furlough and no new working coming in pu...